How far would you go to become the most powerful man in the world? Martin Shaw stars in the UK premiere of Gore Vidal’s The Best Man at Cambridge Arts Theatre from October 16-21.

Also in the cast are Gemma Jones, Glynis Barber, Honeysuckle Weeks and Jack Shepherd.

In the play about the race to the White House, two opposing candidates battle for the nomination. The only thing that separates the former secretary of state and his populist opponent is an endorsement from a respected ex-president. Who will prove to be the best man?

It sounds like current affairs but the play was written in 1960. At the time, it was widely recognized that the play was written as a deliberate parallel of the upcoming 1960 Democratic Convention, and a scathing attack on the Kennedys whom Vidal detested and also a tribute to Adlai Stevenson whom Vidal admired and supported.

As at least one school in the area – Matching Green Primary – announces it will be closed tomorrow, we look at the “impossible” task headteachers face in deciding whether to close their school due to snow.